Ernest M Klein
MilitaryPilot, Klein E, crew. 381st BG, 533rd Bs, 8th AF. Shot down by fighters on mission #59 to the aircraft factories at Oscherleben on 11 Jan 1944 in B-17G #42-31417 'Big Time Operator II'. MACR 1879. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft I.
Oakland, CA
The 1st Bomb Wing/381st BG did not hear the recall while over the continent. 180 out of 700 bombers continued the mission with no fighter cover. The 533rd BS lost 6 out of 9 aircraft. The 381st BG earned its second Distinguished Unit Citation.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6830301
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-801987
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34287352
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Nose Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16059463 at enlistment, then O-734667
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13116808
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Time Operator II, Patches
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 11 January 1944
- Date: 4 January 1944
- Date: 30 December 1943
- Date: 24 December 1943
- Date: 16 December 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Based Prisoner of War (POW) |
8 July 1943 - 11 January 1944 | ||
|
Other Priosner of War |
Barth, Germany | 11 January 1944 | Stalag Luft I |
|
Born |
Oakland, California, USA |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1879 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database